Xoan did not respond, using his uninjured hand to take out a notebook and start working instead.Seeing as he was uninterested, Yaslyn set down the apple and took out her laptop, intending to investigate the mastermind behind the attack.Based on the thugs' facial features, she looked up their criminal organization, then checked their recent call and transaction records. All clues pointed to the Linton Group."Xoan, do you know who's behind the attack?" Yaslyn asked.Xoan's fingers lightly tapped the keyboard as he slowly replied, "The Linton Group."Surprise flashed in Yaslyn's eyes. "How did you know?""Recently, the Warren Group's shares have been soaring. Our development in the jewelry industry is growing, nearly monopolizing the low-end market and approaching the high-end market. Who do you think is most worried right now?" Xoan's mellow voice was unhurried. Glancing at the calm and unruffled Xoan, Yaslyn marveled at his powerful logic. However, she also had another questi
Yaslyn stroked her chin thoughtfully. "So, you want to win me over, is that right?""Indeed," he said.Slowly sliding his business card across her desk, he added, "I'm in awe of your capabilities as the director. I believe you shouldn't limit yourself to just being a director. Wouldn't you like to be the vice president instead?"Yaslyn gazed intently at the business card on her desk as York left, a hint of interest in her eyes.'Vice president…'York wanted to take the president's position for himself!That evening when Yaslyn returned home, everyone else was already asleep except for Xoan, who was alone in the living room looking over documents.She stretched and sat down next to Xoan, asking with concern, "How's your hand?"Xoan's fingers paused briefly as he turned a page. "It's fine."Yaslyn did not quite believe him. She reached for his palm to take a look herself, but he deftly avoided her grasp."It's not like I'm going to bite you," Yaslyn muttered.Xoan changed the
Yaslyn spoke slowly, "Mr. Xenos, if I'm not mistaken, you must be wondering why the loyal colleagues you bought over didn't speak up against Mr. Warren as you expected, right?"York was confused. "Yaslyn, what do you mean by that?"Yaslyn laughed coldly. "Mr. Xenos, don't pretend you don't understand what I mean."Flustered, York began speaking recklessly. "Yaslyn, don't spout nonsense!""Why don't we take a look at this evidence?"Yaslyn took out the documents and photos from a file folder and slammed them on the table.The documents were fanned out, revealing photo after photo of York entering the finance department and evidence of his sabotage."Do you have anything else to say, Mr. Xenos?"York's face turned pale. Seeing the evidence, fear gradually spread through him."These are fabricated! I would never do anything to harm the company. Never!"York suddenly yelled, "You must've staged this whole act to drive me out of the company! You'll face the consequences!"Yaslyn
Soon, the new product was launched with Yaslyn's support behind the scenes.As Xoan expected, some attentive people noticed similarities between the two products on the first day of the launch. To their shock, the Warren Group's new offering was a carbon copy of the Linton Group's piece!Was the Warren Group trying to destroy its own brand?Social media forums exploded with everyone discussing the farce—why it happened and how it should be handled."I think the Warren Group is going under this time. Are they out of talent, copying the Linton Group's designs?""What nonsense are you spewing? This was designed by Yaslyn herself. Do you really think she would plagiarize them?""Don't be so naive. Everyone copies at some point. It's called referencing.""I agree. I'm siding with the Linton Group on this."The online sentiment was almost entirely in the Linton Group's favor, apart from some zealous Yaslyn fans. Everyone else denounced Yaslyn as a 'plagiarist'.The person in questio
Chapter 45 A Bet"Fire!"Someone shouted, and the room erupted into chaos as everyone rushed for the exit.The office was on the eighth floor, so the elevators were obviously out of the question. They discovered that the fire had reached the fourth floor as they ran downstairs. Thick smoke blocked the view of the stairwell, and the choking fumes were unbearable.The group had no choice but to go back.Yaslyn did not follow the others downstairs. Turning back, she saw Xoan standing beside her, holding two towels dampened with water."Use these, so you don't inhale the smoke."Yaslyn dialed the emergency line on her phone. Upon seeing the panicked crowd, she raised her voice."Everyone, don't panic! Getting anxious is useless, and it could put you in danger. If you don't want to get hurt, listen to me."The group looked up in fear but chose to trust Yaslyn's words."Everyone, get a towel or cloth. Wet them before covering your nose and mouth. Also, get yourselves as wet as possible to av
Chapter 48 Opposing TeamsYaslyn's interest was piqued. "But what?"Andy looked around to see if anyone was listening to their conversation before whispering, "The host is a fan of Henry Warren. Since you previously filmed a video with Henry as a couple, you'll most likely be a target."Yaslyn did not care about that. On the contrary, she was looking forward to the interview that afternoon. "Well, then. Let's see what she has up her sleeves."Sure enough, the TV station sent someone to interview Yaslyn at three in the afternoon. The host was in a body-hugging suit, showing off her slender figure.The men in the office ogled at her, wishing it was them being interviewed by her.The host instantly felt threatened when she saw Yaslyn looking extremely beautiful and graceful.So, she was her love rival."Hello, I'm Nadia Osborne. I'll be interviewing you today."Yaslyn smiled and nodded. "Hello. I'm Yaslyn Lyon.""If you don't mind, we'll get right into the interview."Nadia looked at the
The man looked around twenty years old, with rugged features and eyes brimming with warmth."What's your name?"Rowan Yackley smiled gently. "You can call me Mr. Yackley."Yaslyn asked solemnly, "Why do you want to come along?""Like you, I have flight experience. Two would fare better than one.Yaslyn agreed, sensing his honesty.The pilots were extremely anxious. As newly appointed crew with little experience, they were about to break down.The pilot frowned when he saw Rowan and Yaslyn entering the cockpit."What are you youngsters doing here?" he scolded, "This is no place for you to be. Get back to your seats!"Yaslyn stepped forward patiently. "Captain, I have flight experience. May I try maneuvering the plane?""You? You're too young! Get back to your seat!""How can you determine I'm incapable without letting me try? The plane is clearly malfunctioning and about to crash. Are you willing to jeopardize everyone's lives?"Yaslyn had no patience to convince him politel
Yaslyn rolled her eyes helplessly. Unfortunately, she was no match for Xoan's strength and could only stay put.Rowan stopped chatting with Yaslyn and returned to his seat to rest.They soon arrived in Boise City. Xoan and Yaslyn parted ways with Rowan when they left the plane."I just realized we never got Mr. Yackley's name."Xoan glared at Yaslyn. "Oh? You want to know his name that badly?"Yaslyn continued, completely oblivious to his sarcasm. "Well, of course. We fought side by side, after all. I'm quite curious about his identity."Side by side indeed.Xoan looked away and ignored her.Unexpectedly, Yaslyn caught sight of that familiar face again at the check-in counter when they arrived at the hotel."Mr. Yackley, what a coincidence."Turning back and seeing Xoan and Yaslyn approach him, Rowan's face lit up with a sunny smile. "You're here as well. What a coincidence indeed."Yaslyn asked curiously, "I still don't know your name, Mr. Yackley."Rowan chuckled. "It's R
Whitey glanced back and forth between them, shaking her head. "You two are a mystery."Suddenly, Doniel stood and waved Whitey over. "Hey, Whitey. Come here for a second."Confused but compliant, Whitey walked over.In a swift move, Doniel took her hand. With a smug look at Matheo, he announced, "I'm taking Whitey off your hands for a bit."Matheo's expression turned steely. "What's your game?""Don't sweat it, she'll be back soon."With that, Doniel led Whitey out.They reached a more secluded spot before Doniel finally released her hand. "Whitey, you're not hurt, right?"Whitey shook her head, twirling in front of him to prove her point. "See? I'm totally fine."Doniel reached out and gently tapped her forehead. "Someone hit you, didn't they? Your face is still swollen, and here you are, telling me it's nothing."Whitey playfully stuck out her tongue. "I just didn't want you to worry. Besides, I'm not the one who got seriously hurt. It was Matheo.""I know. Matheo really d
"Don't make that call!" Whitey screamed in a panic.A harsh slap struck her face as the ringleader yelled, "Shut it, woman! Who said you could talk?"The man, not satisfied after hitting her, gave in to his fury and kicked her. However, before he knew it, Matheo, who was standing nearby, had silently moved behind him. Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed as Matheo snapped the man's fingers with raw force.Matheo wrapped his arms around Whitey and quickly retreated."I can't take it! I'm done. I don't want anything else. Just do it!"The ringleader was seething with rage, the throbbing in his fingers ruining his will to fight Matheo.A few thugs had been itching for a reason to go after Matheo, and they wasted no time grabbing their weapons and launching an assault.Matheo fought back while dragging Whitey out of harm's way, but as the fight dragged on, he started losing ground.A vicious knife cut to Matheo's leg sent him tumbling down with a grunt."Matheo!"Whitey crouched beside
Whitey shook her head. She did not have a clue, and even if she could guess, she did not know what to do about it."I was actually about to..."Before Matheo could finish, a deafening crash rang out.Startled, Whitey clapped her hands over her ears. Matheo wrapped her in his arms and glanced at the rear window.A random stone had shattered the car's back glass, leaving a gaping hole.The chaos erupted out of nowhere, catching both of them off guard. They had been deep in conversation when suddenly, a line of cars barricaded the road, trapping them.Matheo gently patted her head, a silent plea for calm.Whitey, frantic, nodded and fumbled for her phone, only to find it had mysteriously powered down."Stay put in the car and don't worry," Matheo said, handing her his phone."If things go south, call the cops, call anyone."He was ready to step out and face the unknown threat head-on.Whitey protested. "Matheo, we don't know what we're dealing with. Don't just rush out there."
Whitey was back to her usual routine—classes by day, radio station by night. However, she had a luxury she did not have previously. A private car service, ensuring her safety was never in question.Doniel's lips were sealed, not breathing a word of her injury to anyone. Except for Matheo, who had somehow stumbled upon the secret.That night, after her radio gig, Whitey stepped out expecting to see the familiar pink sports car tucked away in its usual spot. However, it was nowhere in sight.Moreover, he had not even bothered to call her. A knot of worry formed in her stomach. Did something happen to him?Whitey had called his number three, maybe four times, but got nothing.As she was wrestling with her thoughts, a familiar yet unsettling figure approached her.Matheo.Why was he there?Nobody knew about Whitey's job at the radio station except Doniel."Doniel's tied up today, so I'm your ride," Matheo said.Alarm bells rang in Whitey's head. How did Matheo know about Doniel
The nurse nodded, gesturing for Doniel to give them some space.Once the bandaging was complete, Doniel returned with a treat—Whitey's beloved chocolate cupcakes."For you. Why didn't you say it hurt? He was so rough, and yet you asked me not to hold it against him."Whitey, her mouth full of frosting, mumbled a reply. "It's not that bad. Besides, you two are usually on good terms. Why fight over pointless things because of me?"Doniel tapped her head gently. "You're such a goof. What are you even talking about? Meaningless things?""I just thought that you two grew up together, so it'd be a shame to fall out over something so small, right?"Doniel huffed, "I never really cared for him, you know.""Okay, let's figure out a plan B. This mess means I might be stuck in the hospital longer, so I'm counting on you to smooth things over back home."Doniel looked at her with a teasing grin. "Relax, I've got this."Somehow, Whitey could always pick up a strange vibe from his smile, an
Whitey was injured, and Doniel rushed her to the hospital that very night. It was just a slash on her arm, but Doniel was beside himself with worry.Watching Whitey grit her teeth through the stitching, Doniel's face turned a shade of stormy gray. "I'll track down that driver's family if it's the last thing I do!"Whitey winced in pain, but seeing Doniel's fury, she tried to soothe him. "Really, it's not so bad."Doniel looked at her bandaged arm. "Thirteen stitches, Whitey. If you're not in pain, I'm in pain for both of us."Whitey was always the center of attention—a princess who was doted on from the day she was born. She had never experienced an injury as severe as that. As Doniel reached for his phone to call Whitey's parents, she quickly stopped him with a hand gesture, wincing as she accidentally grazed her wound, "Please don't call them. They'll just scold me again if they find out.""I told you to let me drive you home. Now, look at what happened because you didn't li
Whitey gripped the edge of her skirt, a new kind of worry blooming in her chest.'What if Matheo was…'She shuddered at the thought, her mind a garden where fears grew into giant oaks, so tall and dark that they scared her.Looking up again, Whitey's eyes widened as she noticed the taxi had taken a wrong turn, heading into unfamiliar territory.In the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of the driver's unsettling smirk.Taking a cab late at night was proving to be a bad idea, her heart racing with fear. If only she had accepted a ride from Doniel, none of that would happen. Regret washed over her as she scrambled for her phone, desperate to call for help.Sensing her panic, the driver floored it to a secluded spot and then abruptly stopped the car.Whitey's head snapped forward, hitting the seat, and as the world spun, her phone slipped from her grasp. Then, the driver was toying with her phone, his grin wide and wicked."Planning to call the cops or a friend, sweetheart?""
As time swiftly marched on, three years went by.Whitey nailed her entrance exam into the top university in Jefferson City—Jefferson City University.As for the others, Caleb turned 30, tied the knot, had kids, and took control of Sheldon's international ventures. He and his family packed up and moved overseas, while the rest stayed back."Thanks for tuning into 'Moonlit Wishes,' your go-to spot for all things heartfelt. I'm your host, Macie."At the stroke of ten, Macie's soothing voice filled the evening airwaves."Let's hear from our first caller tonight. Hey there, sir, what's on your mind?"Macie's voice was soothing, soft yet strong enough to coax secrets from the most guarded of hearts."Here's the thing, Macie. I've been head over heels for this girl, but she's always kept me at arm's length, saying I haven't done enough. However, today, I caught her in another guy's arms. What gives?"The man's voice quivered with barely concealed tears, slurred slightly by alcohol.M
"So, just because you're into him, you decide to set me up? How does that make any sense?"Whitey could not help but find her logic almost laughable."Because I noticed he always had a soft spot for you, jealousy clouded my judgment, and that's why I..."Jade inhaled deeply, as if bracing herself for what was to come. "Well, you've uncovered the truth, so there's no point in hiding anything. Punish me however you see fit."What was the point in pleading guilty then?Jade stood there, a mix of defiance and dignity, stubborn even in the face of her mistake.Whitey was not looking to lay blame. "I'm not going to take this to the principal, and I won't breathe a word of it to anyone else. However, as of today, our friendship is done. I'll find a new place to sit when we get back."Whitey let out a tired sigh. "There's something else you should know. He's got a girlfriend now."Jade's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, are you two an item now?""No, I'm not the one he's dating."Wi